Balls outlines aims of Children’s Plan

The forthcoming Children’s Plan will not “rewrite” Every Child Matters, the secretary for children, schools and families Ed Balls told the National Social Services Conference yesterday.

He said the 10-year plan, which is under consultation and due to be published in December, would be “about recognising there is some way to go” in putting children and young people at the centre of policy.

Balls said the “big outcome” of the plan would be to get health and schools working more closely together.

In an apparently unscripted speech with a heavy emphasis on raising schools’ performance, Balls said he wanted to end the “artificial distinction” between education and children’s services.

He said local authorities were “central” to driving up standards in schools including raising achievement among gypsy and traveller children and children in care.

Balls also made a clear statement of support for academy schools, claiming they had raised standards for the most disadvantaged children.

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